Fitting God's Gifts Together

  (At age 7, I received Christ as Savior. Although I was shy, I was passionate about praying for and finding ways to lead others to Christ. I prayerfully learned piano, then taught myself accordion, asked God for a voice to sing, and for the ability to play by ear for church and Gospel ministry.  I ended up at Piedmont Bible College (after running from God's call to ministry in universities for 3 years).  At Bible College, I learned teaching skills and Bible exposition.  Still, I often prayed for direction and wisdom for how to put all of this together in life and ministry.  My senior (7th college year ), I was still uncertain and wondering when  Professor David Legrand stopped me as he was leaving campus one afternoon and said, "He Dwight, would you like to learn a new tool for ministry?" 
I replied,  "What is it?" 
 "Chalk Art!"  
"You're a nut, I'm not an artist."
"I think if you could do it, you would use it for God's glory."
"I CAN'T, so I won't. "
"Pray about that--ask God for the ability; then, put feet to your prayers and sit in on my class Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for the next two weeks."
Two weeks later, I had THREE big, beautiful Bible Chalk Drawings.  When I prayed,  I told God that if He gave me the ability, that I would build an easel over Christmas break, and every door He opened that I would say yes.  All of my talents to that point came together in Good News Chalk Talks ministry: singing, preaching, piano, accordion & drawing.  I built the easel, people started calling by work of mouth that January of 1994.  What a happy journey that's still amazing.  (Pictured below is Professor David Legrand at age 86, still encouraging our ministry after 32 years of Good News Chalk Talks.)